Now Commenting On:

Bunting for hits is in Bourjos' game plan

Email

Print

Bourjos steals third base 0:30

5/13/14: Peter Bourjos, who represents the tying run, steals third base as Jon Jay draws the walk against Carlos Villanueva

By Jenifer Langosch
/
MLB.com |

ST. LOUIS -- Hours before the Cardinals capped a comeback win with a wild walk-off hit by pitch, it was Peter Bourjos' bunt single that sparked the club's climb back. Bourjos laid down a first-pitch bunt to open the sixth, reached safely and scored one of the two runs St. Louis plated in that frame.

Expect those bunt-for-a-hit attempts to continue.

"Bunting is something that has gotten away from me a little this year," Bourjos said. "It was tough early when I was hitting in front of the pitcher. It didn't really seem like there were too many opportunities. The last few days talking with [assistant hitting coach David Bell], I've been working on it a lot and trying to make it more a part of my game."

More opportunities have come with Bourjos' recent move into the seventh spot in the lineup. He has hit there in each of his last eight starts after batting predominately in the eight-hole to begin the season.

He may, however, be about to move back down to that eighth place now that second baseman Kolten Wong has returned to the club. Even still, the Cardinals will encourage Bourjos to continue to seek opportunities to utilize his speed to reach base.

"I think that's why you saw us consciously putting him in the seven spot, not just for the bunting but also the running," manager Mike Matheny said. "We're going to have to toy around with that a little bit. I want him to still continue to be aggressive. He'd be crazy not to continue that in his repertoire."